“The way of complete renunciation is embraced joyously by those who want to see God, and naught else but God. He reveals Himself to those who live by the renunciant’s creed: ‘God is my life. God is my love. God is the temple that calls my heart to unceasing worship. God is my Goal. No duty can be performed without the power borrowed from God, so my highest duty is to find Him.’ ”

— Paramahansa Yogananda

At the heart of Self-Realization Fellowship is a dedicated monastic order founded by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Monks and nuns of the SRF monastic order serve the society’s worldwide spiritual and humanitarian work in many capacities — from publishing the writings and recordings of Paramahansaji and his direct disciples, providing spiritual counsel, and conducting temple services, retreats, and lecture tours, to maintaining the buildings, meditation gardens, and ashrams; overseeing the distribution of the SRF Lessons and books; and fulfilling many administrative, office, and other duties required for carrying on the work of an international religious organization.

However, the principal calling of every Self-Realization Fellowship monk and nun is to grow daily in pure love and longing for God — surrendering all lesser desires of the ego so that God becomes the all-consuming Reality of his or her existence, every moment, every day, until final liberation in Spirit is achieved.